(IN)Relief for elephants in Kerala

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Church and temple vow not to parade elephants

 

By Akhel Mathew, Correspondent

Published: October 21, 2007, 23:04

 

Thiruvananthapuram: Elephants in Kerala are set to enjoy a brighter future

thanks to a new set of Forest Department rules aimed at ensuring their

general welfare.

 

Elephants are often forced to participate in religious festivals in a bid to

add colour to the proceedings.

 

The Sivagiri Mutt and the St. George Malankara Orthodox Christian Church in

Thrissur have already vowed not to parade elephants during temple and church

festivals.

 

They are among the first institutions to take such action. Their decisions

have come as a relief to animal lovers who have constantly protested against

the ill-treatment of elephants on festive occasions.

 

The Mutt is reported to have taken its decision in keeping with the

teachings of famous social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

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" Not many are aware of the torture these elephants are subjected to in the

name of the festivals. Sree Narayana Guru taught us not to inflict pain on

even an ant, " is the stand Mutt officials have taken.

 

The Forest Department's restrictions on elephant parades follows a number of

tragic incidents that have taken the lives of elephants and their mahouts.

 

According to some reports, 86 captive elephants and 30 mahouts were killed

between September 2006 and July 2007.

 

Reacting to the church decision to opt out of elephant parading, an Aana

Premi Sanghom (Elephant Lovers Association) spokesman said it was a good

sign the church could organise a festival without elephants.

 

Trading in captive elephants has, meanwhile, come to a halt, after a series

of strict rules were imposed.

 

A good number of elephants in Kerala are brought from other states.

Following strictures issued by the Kerala government, those wanting to keep

elephants in Kerala have turned to states like Assam, Orissa, Arunachal

Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

 

The buyers are required to secure a permit from Kerala's Chief Wild Life

Warden and approach forest officials in the northern states to complete a

legal deal.

 

Reports say that there are under-the-table dealings, with four to five

elephants being brought to the state on the strength of a single permit.

Some fear that as many as 700 elephants currently in Kerala may be without

proper ownership records.